Birds from the New Hebrides. 265 
21. Limosa MELANUROIDES, Gould? 
One specimen from Aniwa, among seven of the fan-tailed 
species, is rather smaller, and with the tail not barred, yet 
not black, but dark brown. I believe, therefore, that it is an 
immature bird of Mr. Gould’s L. melanuroides. 
22. ARDEA sAcRA, Gm. 
Two specimens in good state from Aneiteum are in the 
collection. ‘They are considerably larger than A. sacra from 
Samoa. I observe that they sustain the remarks made by 
G. R. Gray, who would have separated them under his name 
of A. albolineata, P.Z.S. 1859, p. 166. The difference seems 
to be too slight and uncertain on which to found a species ; 
but if not two species, there are certainly two races in these 
Pacific Islands, a larger and a smaller, and the two do not 
appear to be found in the same locality anywhere. Native 
name ‘“Inpaing.” Mr. Inglis observes that it wades in the 
sea rather than in streams. 
23. RaLius PHILIPPENSIS, L. 
From Aneiteum. Native name “Nebutch.” “ Note. 
Lives in the bush, and flies little.” 
24. PoRPHYRIO ANEITEUMENSIS, Sp. NOv. 
Long. tot. 18°5, ale a carp. 9°4, caud. 3°6, rostr. a rict. 1:35, 
mand. super. cum scuta 2°4, tars. 3°5, dig. med. cum 
ungue 3°75, Coloribus non aliter distributis quam in 
P. indico et P. vitiensi, sed dorso non tam lete czerules- 
cente quam in P. indico. 
I have been induced to describe the Purple Gallinule of 
the New Hebrides as a new species, since I cannot identify it 
by any of the descriptions within my reach. I think a con- 
fusion has arisen in this group owing to an error in Cassin’s 
‘Ornithology of the United States Exploring Expedition.’ 
He there gives P. indicus as the species found in Samoa; but 
in a footnote he gives measurements corresponding exactly 
with those I have given above for the New-Hebrides bird. 
Now these measurements do not agree in the least with those 
of true P. indicus, as correctly given by Finsch and Hartlaub 
and by Schlegel, and proved by specimens before me from 
Sumatra and Macassar. 
SER, III.—VOL. VI. T 
= es 
ee RE 







